IWBNI there were options that could be used to specify the situations in which the notes of unison intervals across layers should be double-stemmed, as a function of the notehead type and whether or not augmentation dots are present. (Note: A "unison interval across layers" is a unison interval for which the notes are contained in different layers.) As it is now, to prevent unisons from being double-stemmed, one may select Avoid Collision of Unisons on the Music Spacing Options dialog box and select Apply Note Spacing or Apply Beat Spacing from the submenu MassEdit>Music Spacing. When Avoid Collision of Unisons is not selected, unisons will be double-stemmed.

This could be implemented by adding the following controls to the Layer Options dialog box:

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Layer Options Dialog Box

Double-Stem Unisons When:
[ ] Same Duration
[ ] Non-dotted Black Notes of Different Duration
[ ] Dotted Black Note with Non-dotted Black Note

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These checkbox options would apply to all layers.

When the checkbox option Same Duration is selected, a unison across layers would be double-stemmed if the notes have the same duration. The option Non-dotted Black Notes of Different Duration would be used to specify that the notes should be double-stemmed if both notes have a black notehead (as would be used for a quarter note or eighth note), the notes do not have the same duration, and neither note has an augmentation dot. If the checkbox option Dotted Black Note with Non-dotted Black Note is selected, the notes would be double-stemmed in the case when both notes have a black notehead and one note is dotted while the other is not.

For more information, see:

George Heussenstamm, The Norton Manual of Music Notation, pages 80-2.
Gardner Read, Music Notation: A Manual of Modern Practice, pages 68-9.

Created: April 9, 2000 (based on comments by Hal Owen)
Last Updated: April 9, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b